Wellington.Scoop
Sir Peter Jackson’s private jet is being used in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane which disappeared three weeks ago with 239 people on board.

Radio New Zealand reports that a spokesperson for Sir Peter confirmed his Gulfstream G650 jet is being used in the search for the Boeing 777.

The Joint Agency Co-ordination Centre confirmed that the jet is being used as a communications relay for the 10 military aircraft searching for the missing airliner. Radio New Zealand says the company which operated the jet had accepted a charter offer with Sir Peter’s permission.

The New Zealand Herald reports that a spokesman for Sir Peter declined to say what remuneration was being offered for the charter or whether the jet was offered and was requested. “Peter would not seek publicity for something like this and would actively avoid it in fact,” spokesman Matt Dravitzki said.

The Herald says Sir Peter bought the jet last March for around $80 million. It is managed by charter service Execujet and is based in Wellington. Gulfstream describes the G650 on its website as an “ultra-high-speed, ultra-long-range business jet” and as the “gold standard in business aviation”.

According to Radio New Zealand, it can travel from Wellington to Alaska without needing to refuel and can fly close to the speed of sound.